Victorian election: Former cabinet minister tells of Daniel Andrews rule by fear
Ten days out from the state election, a former cabinet minister has spoken out about how she says Daniel Andrews gets his way in Caucus.
A former cabinet minister says Labor Caucus under Daniel Andrews isn’t “a place for discussion or debate”, and crossing the Victorian Premier can be a life-changing decision with implications post-politics.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the female former minister made the comments in an interview with Peta Credlin for the Sky News Australia anchor’s documentary The Cult of Daniel Andrews, set to premiere at 7:30pm on Wednesday.
“I’m doing it because I think it’s important to tell the truth on behalf of a whole lot of people,” she told Ms Credlin. “And the fear of retribution from him extends to every aspect of life.”
The former minister said those who agreed with the Premier had a positive experience.
“But if you don’t, then you are absolutely singled out as the enemy. And you’re absolutely put in the freezer,” she said.
The former minister said crossing Mr Andrews, either through the media or in Caucus, was a life-changing decision.
“It completely will change your life. Or you have a fear of not being able to get any kind of meaningful work anywhere if you have publicly crossed him,” she said.
“And I don’t mean publicly in the media. Of course, that happens. But even publicly, in front of colleagues. So Caucus … wasn’t a place for discussion or debate, which is what I always thought Caucus would be.”
The comments came as Mr Andrews on Tuesday pledged to overhaul the treatment of women’s health in Victoria, 10 days out from the state election.
The Premier promised to invest a total of $71m, with $58m carved out to stand up 20 new “wrap around” clinics from 2024 that will treat a range of issues, including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids and period pain, for free.
“My message to Victorian women … is that we hear you and we are going to do more and do better to provide you with the care that you need,” Mr Andrews said.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said it was not only a cost-of-living announcement, but also about destigmatising women’s health care.
“We know that many women suffer in silence because historically many aspects of women's health and our biology has not been taken as seriously by what in the past was a male-dominated medical profession,” she said.
The Premier said the clinics would provide culturally appropriate care to women from diverse backgrounds, while a dedicated service for Aboriginal women would also be established.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Matthew Guy travelled to Warragul, east of Melbourne, to spruik his plan to reserve 100 per cent of new conventional onshore gas for Victorian consumers.
Mr Guy denied Wayne Farnham, candidate for the local seat of Narracan, had been pulled from appearing at his press conference after the Herald Sun revealed Mr Farnham had liked a Facebook page run by Centrefold Strippers.
“I’ve got absolutely no intention of talking about who likes what on social media,” he said.
He refused to answer questions about whether it was appropriate for his MPs — including would-be treasurer David Davis and frontbenchers Brad Battin and James Newbury — to be following accounts, including one that said “modern Feminism is a Cancer” and an Instagram page called @melbourneboudoirbykaren.
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